I appreciated Nancy Lofholm’s coverage of recent steps towards more equitable immigration benefits for LGBT couples. After living in Colombia for several years, I applied for my Colombian husband to accompany me to the United States in 2012. As a straight couple, our right to remain together was acknowledged, but it wasn’t lost on me that LGBT friends in a similar situation would have had to choose between remaining with their partners or being able to return home.

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the poorly named Defense of Marriage Act and grant equal federal benefits helps to make immigration law less arbitrary and discriminatory. The next step would be to pass comprehensive immigration reform to address all the constellations of families that currently live separated from one another or in fear of separation, such as the millions of citizen children with undocumented parents.

Lisa Kunkel, Eagle

This letter was published in the Aug. 16 edition.

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One of Glenwood Springs’ two roundabouts that flank Interstate 70 at the West Glenwood exit. (Denver Post file)

Monday, as my wife and I were returning from a weekend motorcycle trip, a woman in a white car almost hit us as I negotiated the roundabout at Quincy Avenue and Simms Street. She came within inches of knocking us off the bike and injuring us, possibly seriously. I use this two-lane roundabout twice daily, going to and returning from work. Almost daily, I see people turning from the wrong lane or failing to yield when attempting to enter the circle.

Why have traffic engineers so ardently adopted this design? It’s clear to me that most motorists don’t understand it. Add the differences from one traffic circle to another, and you have a recipe for disaster. I suppose that avoiding the cost of maintaining traffic signals is the “justification.”

Please use extreme caution in roundabouts. Especially, pay attention to the signs indicating lane usage that are posted at multi-lane circles. And please: start seeing motorcycles!

Mark Vanderbrook, Morrison

This letter was published in the Aug. 16 edition.

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The 16th St. Mall is pictured in this November 2011 file photo in downtown Denver. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)

We recently had relatives we haven’t seen in a long time stop in to see us on their way to Rocky Mountain National Park. We met at Larimer Square and walked up the 16th Street Mall to a restaurant in the Pavilions. The walk along the mall was less than pleasant, with groups of young thugs hanging out in the alleys along the mall and the sidewalks, and bus lanes dirty and shabby looking. After dinner, around 8:30 p.m., we walked back down the mall through a maze of thugs, drunks and fights. In one case a young person visibility upset was throwing F-words at a group of punks. We had a 9-year-old with us, who shouldn’t have had to hear the exchange. Neither should the rest of us have had to.

And where were the police? There were none visible during our walk.

It will be a long time before we go downtown; our relatives didn’t think much of the mall.

Clean it up!

F. Gostic, Evergreen

This letter was published in the Aug. 16 edition.

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Your editorial fails to recognize that the Transportation Security Administration’s Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams have been deployed during specific alert periods or at major events with large crowds since 2004. VIPR teams often work at the request of state and local law enforcement to enhance security around events such as the presidential inauguration and Super Bowl. The make-up of the teams varies according to need; VIPRs can include federal air marshals, behavior detection officers, explosive experts, and canines.

Since 9/11, TSA’s security programs have evolved to stay ahead of changing threats. Although VIPR operations are not new, they continue to be an important part of our multi-layered approach to security. The teams are an effective and visible deterrent to planning and carrying out a terrorist attack in transportation and other high-profile venues. These and other operations help protect the public every day.

Chris McLaughlin, Denver

The writer is a federal security director at Denver International Airport.

This letter was published in the Aug. 16 edition.

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Guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 150 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address, day and evening phone numbers, and may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.

To reach the Denver Post editorial page by phone: 303-954-1331

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